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White Birch Lake

Vilas County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic

White Birch Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Vilas County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI value of 37 puts White Birch Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake bottoms out at 27 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. White Birch Lake covers 113 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. White Birch Lake ranks 12 of 191 in Vilas County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

No invasive species are currently listed at White Birch Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)16 ftA
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)37Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth27 ft
Surface Area113 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for White Birch Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from White Birch Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

White Birch Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable+0.236 m/yr6
Phosphorus Improving-0.74 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #12 of 191 lakes in Vilas County

Nearby Lakes in Vilas County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Deep Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 38 (oligotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Musky(Common)Panfish(Common)Walleye(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)

EPA Impairment Status

White Birch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10003969 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2025-10-03

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near White Birch Lake

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